EasyPark system hits the streets just in time for winter weather: New device helps avoid metered parking in Dover

Wednesday

Dec 19, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Michelle Kingstonmkingston@fosters.com

DOVER — EasyPark is now available, debuting at a perfect time, with the wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow making metered parking look less desirable.

Instead of having to get out of their vehicle to feed a meter, EasyPark allows motorists to pay for parking with just a click of a button from inside their heated car.

“Ready for a quick tutorial?” Parking Manager Bill Simons asked during the Parking Commission meeting Wednesday morning where the first few transponders were purchased.

Simons explained the simple steps in using the small yellow device, which charges motorists by the minute, taking the stress out of having to estimate how long one needs to park.

“When you press ‘on,’ it will say, ‘Hello,’ and show you how much is on your account,” Simons said.

Next, you press ‘on’ again to choose which city you are parking in. At this time, the device will only show Dover. However, within the next couple of weeks, according to Simons, Portsmouth will be using EasyPark, giving motorists the option to use the transponder in both cities.

“Press ‘on’ to choose Dover, choose on-street parking or parking lot with the arrows and press ‘on’ to see the time limit and the rate, then press ‘on’ and hear the long beep,” Simons said, which indicates that EasyPark has started charging for parking.

The device can be turned on at anytime, but will only charge between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

“If you have a dentist appointment at 8:30, you can turn it on and run in, but it won’t start charging you until 9. Same goes for after 7. You can turn it on at 6:30, but it will stop at 7,” Simons said, but did say it will continue to beep to indicate it needs to be turned off.

The device is for sale online at EasyParkUSA.com and at the police station for $19.95, preloaded with $10 of free parking.

“It’ll eliminate people having to get out of their car and feed the meter, especially on a day like today,” Dover Housing Authority Executive Director and member of the commission Jack Buckley said, who was the first to receive EasyPark on Wednesday.

“The other night I went to use the meter and it wasn’t lit so I couldn’t find the slot. This just makes the process easier.”

Simons said by the end of Tuesday, 31 EasyPark transponders had been sold.